Pick array



April 15, 1969 D. PINKAS PICK ARRAY United States Patent O 3,438,486 PICK ARRAY David Pinkas, 41 Deerwood Manor, Norwalk, Conn. 06851 Filed Aug. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 572,975 Int. Cl. B65d 83/00; A24f 27/00; A61c 15/00 U.S. Cl. 206--56 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE closing folder.

This invention relates to a pick array alone and in combination with container means.

The term pick member is used herein broadly to include members having one or both ends shaped to perform the various picking functions of tooth, nail and ear picks.

The term array is used herein in its meaning of a plural number of things, in this case pick members, disposed in a regular order or arrangement.

An object of the invention is to provide a supply of picks of the kinds mentioned above in convenient compact form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a number of pick members disposed in a convenient orderly way and mounted so that a selected member can be readily separated from the others.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel way of mounting pick members so that both ends of a member may be functionally used.

Another object of the invention is to provide disposable picks for handy use in picking particles between teeth, wax formations in ears and dirt collections under fingernails.

Another object of the invenion is to provide picks of a novel and practical design adapted to perform needed services, and to -be produced by a simple stamping operation from plastic or similar flexible material and in a form convenient for sanitary packaging.

The invention will be best understood by reading the following description in connection with the drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a long ribbon array,

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view showing a long ribbon array in com-binationwith a cylindrical container,

FIGURE 3 is an isometric View of a combination of an array and a folding cover and a pad of sheets of tissue,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the combination shown in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a cross section of the lower portion of the combination shown in FIGURE 4, somewhat enlarged, and

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of an array comprising ten picks.

A pick array is shown in the drawing, FIGURE 6, comprising a base strip 14 and a number of pick members 16 and 18, arranged alternately and disposed projecting outwardly from the base strip. As shown members 16 are functionally shaped at :both ends, :with a hook 20 at the outer end and with its inner end tapered to one side providing an inclined edge 22 terminating in a point, 23,

the member being attached at 24 to the projection 15 comprising part of the Vbase strip 14. It will be noted that the lower end of the member is cut out leaving only the connection at 24 supporting the pick member from the base strip. If it is desired to use the member it may `be easily torn out, or otherwise separated from the base strip, and neither the inclined edge 22 nor the point 23 will be modified or affected. Both the inner surfaces of hooks 20 and the inclined surfaces or edges at the inner ends of members 16 are serrated with the serrations s.

The pick members 18, as shown, have rounded outer ends 28, and are functionally shaped at the inner end in the form of an inverted V to define a plurality of nail picks comprising points 30 and 32 of different length and sharpness. Pick members 18 like pick members 16, are attached to the base strip in a manner which will permit separation of the member from the supporting base strip without injuring the functionally shaped end portions. As illustrated in FIGURE 6 the base strip comprises projections 26 which extend into the V-shaped space at the lower end of member 18 and are joined to members 18 at points 26a respectively. The connection between projections 26 and the lower end of members 18 respectively may thus be broken Without injuring the functional points 30 and 32.

Preferably the rounded outer ends 28 are provided `with small central openings 29a which open into slits 29b extending for a distance longitudinally of the body portions of pick members 18. This structure permits the outer rounded ends 28 to be somewhat folded to provide bowl shaped members facilitating insertion of them into, and withdrawal from, an ear, and increasing the ability of the ends 28 to perform the function of removing ear wax.

It will be seen from FIGURES l and 2 that an array 12 may comprise a long ribbon 34 of which the lbase strip 14a forms a longitudinally extending marginal portion, with pick members, such as 16 and 18 for example, projecting laterally from it. The base strip of this long ribbon may be perforated at spaced intervals as along lines 36 to divide the ribbon into a number of smaller arraysA The ribbon-like array may be housed in a container 38 and drawn out of it through a slot 40, and divided into desired lengt-hs or arrays, for example a length or array comprising several pick members, and of a size convenient to be carried in a pocketbook or purse or in a mans coat pocket.

Arrays preferably comprising on the order of ten or a dozen pick members for example, may be combined with a folding cover, and if desired with a pad of tissue, to provide a multiuse package of convenient size to be placed in a pocket, pocketbook and the like. Such a combination is shown in FIGURE 3 where a length of suitable material such as cardboard, is shaped to form panels foldable to provide a mounting and a cover for an array. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 the length of cardboard is folded to dene first, second and third panels, 42, 43 and 44 respectively. An array 46 is mounted on the second panel 43 at 48, by any suitable means, attaching the base strip to the panel adjacent the proximate end of the third panel 44 and disposed between panels 43 and 44. The third panel is turned over the second and is long enough to provide an edge under which the free end of the first panel -42 may be inserted when it is bent over the second panel and over the array which is mounted on the second panel. As shown herein panel 44 is extended by adding to it a cover sheet 45 which is long enough to `cover the array and in the folded package shown in FIGURE 3 is disposed between the array and the sheets of tissue.

A pad of sheets 50, of tissue, may be attached near the outer end of the first panel, as at 52, on the surface of the first panel which becomes its inner surface when folded, the sheets of tissue being preferably long enough to extend ove1 the surfaces of the first and Second panels 42 and 43. When the assembly is folded the tissue covers the free ends of the pick members comprising array 46, and extends between the array and the inner surfaces of the first and second panels thus covering and substantially enclosing the pick members.

Obviously the four functional pick ends illustrated herein, or modifications of them, may be paired as Shown, or the pairing may be changed, or four pick members may be provided each having a Single functional end.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated herein the functional ends 20 and 22 are well adapted to serve as toothpicks, the hooked ends 20 being especially adapted for use in reaching behind the teeth and picking out particles from the inside of the teeth, while the ends 22 provide toothpicks adapted to be directed at the outside of the teeth.

The functional ends defining the points 30 and 32 of different length and width provide a choice of nail picks adapted for use with nails f different sizes and where the spacing under the nail differs.

The functional rounded ends 28 provide means without any point or sharp edge for probing gently into an ear, well adapted because of their shape and structure to be effective for the purpose of removing ear wax.

There has thus been provided means by which the above stated objects are accomplished in a thoroughly practical way.

What I claim is:

1. A pick array comprising a base Strip and a plurality of pick members projecting from the base strip in spaced parallel relation, each of the members comprising a body portion, a free end portion and means detachably connecting the member to the base strip, at least some of said members being provided with an edge notch adjacent the free end with the side of the notch contiguous to the free end having a plurality of serrations.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is joined to the base strip by a diagonally `disposed serrated weakened line to provide a serrated tapered end when the member is detached from the base.

3. The array claimed in claim y1 in which an end of a pick member is broad and rounded and blends into the sides of said member and adapted to be inserted into the users ear to remove wax from within the ear.

4. The array claimed in claim 1 in which a 'member is provided with a rounded end portion blending into the sides of the member and is cut out at the center with the adjoining portion of the member slit longitudinally to permit folding of the said portion of the said member and the said rounded end portion, thus giving the end portion a bowl shape to facilitate insertion of the said end portion into the users ear, and removal of wax.

5. The array claimed in claim 1 in combination with a supporting and enclosing folder comprising first, second and third panels, joined end to end, and one or more sheets of tissue attached at one end of the first panel adjacent the outer, free end of the first panel, the base Strip of the array being secured to the second panel, the first panel being adapted to be bent over the second panel and over an array mounted on the second panel, and the third panel being long enough to be bent at least partly over the second panel and over at least the lower end of the base Strip portion of the array, providing a pocket between itself and the array into which the free end portion of the first panel may be inserted, the sheet or sheets of tissue extending over and around the outer end of the array, between the array and the first `and second panels, when the folder is folded, thus extending over both Surfaces of the array and covering the outer free ends of the pick members comprising the said array.

6. The array claimed in claim 1 in combination with a supporting and enclosing folder comprising first, second and third panels, joined end to end, and one or more sheets of tissue attached at one end of the first panel adjacent the outer, free end of the first panel, the base strip of the array being secured to the second panel, the first panel being adapted to be bent over the second panel and over an array mounted on the second panel, and the third panel being long enough to be bent at least partly over the second panel and over at least the lower end of the base strip portion of the array, the sheet or sheets of tissue extending over and around the outer end 0f the array, between the array and the first and second panels, when the folder is folded, and a fourth panel attached to the inside of the third panel below the free end margin of the third panel and, in the folded assembly, extending over the array between the array and the portion of the sheet or sheets of tissue which extend along the inner surface of the first panel, the point of attachment between the third and fourth panels hang sufficiently below the free end margin of the third panel to leave a pocket, between its free end margin portion and the fourth panel, into which the free end portion of the first panel may be inserted.

7. The array claimed in claim 1 in the form of a ribbon with the base strip extending longitudinally of the ribbon and forming a lateral margin of the ribbon, and with the picks projecting from the base strip transversely of the ribbon, the base strip being weakened at spaced intervals along lines extending transversely of the base strip to facilitate dividing the ribbon into separate portions each comprising one or more picks, and a container adapted to receive the ribbon, said container having a discharge opening through which an end of the ribbon may be threaded and a desired length of the ribbon m-ay be withdrawn.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 281,731 7/1883 schimmel 20e-46 2,111,265 3/1938 Heckel 132-90 2,364,085 12/1944 Martinek 132-735 2,738,794 3/1956 Fleming 132-72 2,762,501 111/1956 Cameron 206--29 l FOREIGN PATENTS 11,359 5/1906 GreatBrifain.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examnen GREGORY E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

